Cannabinoid-mediated short-term plasticity in hippocampus

Zachariou, Margarita; Thul, Ruediger

Abstract

Endocannabinoids modulate both excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in hippocampus via activation of pre-synaptic cannabinoid receptors. Here, we present a model for cannabinoid mediated short-term depression of excitation (DSE) based on our recently developed model for the equivalent phenomenon of suppressing inhibition (DSI). Furthermore, we derive a simplified formulation of the calcium-mediated endocannabinoid synthesis that underlies short-term modulation of neurotransmission in hippocampus. The simplified model describes cannabinoid-mediated short-term modulation of both hippocampal inhibition and excitation and is ideally suited for large network studies. Moreover, the implementation of the simplified DSI/DSE model provides predictions on how both phenomena are modulated by the magnitude of the pre-synaptic cell's activity. In addition we demonstrate the role of DSE in shaping the post-synaptic cell's firing behaviour qualitatively and quantitatively in dependence on eCB availability and the pre-synaptic cell's activity. Finally, we explore under which conditions the combination of DSI and DSE can temporarily shift the fine balance between excitation and inhibition. This highlights a mechanism by which eCBs might act in a neuro-protective manner during high neural activity.

Citation

Zachariou, M., & Thul, R. (2014). Cannabinoid-mediated short-term plasticity in hippocampus. Journal of Computational Neuroscience, 37(3), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10827-014-0518-4

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 21, 2014
• Publication Date: Aug 16, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 17, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 17, 2017
• Journal: Journal of Computational Neuroscience
• Print ISSN: 0929-5313
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-6873
• Publisher: Springer Verlag
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 3
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10827-014-0518-4
• Keywords: Calcium, DSI, DSE, Endocannabinoids, Hippocampus, Short-term Plasticity
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/734099
• Publisher URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10827-014-0518-4
• Additional Information: The final publication is available at link.springer.com via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10827-014-0518-4
• Contract Date: Nov 17, 2017